When the Coalition reconnaissance aircraft group arrived at the engagement airspace, they saw from a distance that clouds of smoke were erupting violently over the US fleet. Those were large numbers of high-explosive shells fired by the US 5-inch dual-purpose guns serving as medium and long-range air defense.

Due to the sufficient distance, the visual acuity of the reconnaissance aircraft pilots was at least 2.0, with excellent dynamic visual capabilities. In the eyes of the reconnaissance aircraft pilots, the clouds of smoke and fire from the explosions seemed to form a semicircular protective shield covering the US aircraft carrier formation.

Through interrogation of captured US prisoners these days, coupled with intelligence gathering, some basic conditions of the US radar air defense fire system were roughly determined. The development of the US military in electronic technology was admirable, having completed an air defense system centered on computers and radar. Under the command of the air defense system, one of the core weapons of air defense firepower was the 5-inch dual-purpose naval gun.

Although there was no exchange between the US military and the Chinese military in this regard, they both chose firing ideas with the same principle, as well as radio proximity fuzes. The range of the US 5-inch naval gun reached 10 kilometers. Coupled with the radio proximity fuze, the accuracy and intensity of the firepower were terrifying.

The pilots on the Chinese reconnaissance planes had already seen several Chinese fighters trying to cut into the gaps of the US aircraft carrier formation being destroyed and falling helplessly into the sea. Although the Coalition Air Force also used air defense systems with the same principle for a large number of exercises, the gap between exercises and actual combat was huge. Facing the reality that mistakes meant death, the US air defense firepower was almost a saturation attack.

The reconnaissance team looked down at the battlefield from high altitude. The Chinese Air Force did not give up the attack because a few fighters were shot down. The commander ordered each flight crew to continue attacking according to the experience accumulated in training and his observation of the battlefield.

Although the US fighter pilots clearly felt the high maneuverability of the Chinese J-10, the maneuverability of the P-51 was not bad, and the US fighter pilots were quite confident. Facing the situation where failure meant annihilation, P-51 fighters also cooperated with US naval guns to dogfight with the Chinese Air Force on the periphery.

As bystanders, the Coalition reconnaissance aircraft pilots found that some American pilots with very powerful flying skills were quite clear-headed at this time. When they fell into a disadvantage, not only did they not panic, but they also used these disadvantages to lure the Chinese fighters chasing closely behind into the US air defense fire net, letting the US fleet air defense fire shoot down the Chinese fighters. several Chinese fighters were about to shoot down US planes when they were hit by the sudden concentrated fire of the US air defense firepower and destroyed directly in the air.

American pilots who dared to do this not only had brilliant driving skills but also were bold and careful. The US air defense system was also very precise. If it couldn't make accurate judgments, it might not necessarily shoot down Chinese fighters, but America's own fighters.

All US air defense firepower was firing fiercely. The sea surface was already filled with smoke, gradually obscuring the figures of the warships. The air was also filled with smoke. Coupled with the various dazzling flight trajectories flown by pilots of both sides with various high maneuvers, it looked dazzling to the naked eye.

But this was just appearance. Radar waves invisible to the naked eye, as well as emotionless computer information processing, completely ignored all the fog that constituted obstacles to humans and executed the battle precisely.

Not only did fierce fighting continue over the US aircraft carrier formation, but similar battles were also taking place over the Chinese aircraft carrier formation. It was just that the side gritting their teeth and full of hatred became the US Air Force.

J-10 fighters used the advantages of climbing and spiraling to drive the incoming US P-51s into the air defense fire net of the Chinese aircraft carrier formation. The US Air Force air defense system had an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, and the Chinese Air Force had also completed the research and development of the IFF system. Although it couldn't be said that there was no accidental injury at all, the rate of accidental injury was extremely low.

The US Air Force found that it also faced a worse problem than expected: they overestimated themselves in their assessment of the battle.

It was impossible for the Chinese and US armies to really conduct saturation live-fire exercises at the risk of huge losses during exercises. Therefore, in the large-scale exercises of the US Air Force, there was also a "watered down" situation similar to that of the Chinese Air Force. In the assessment produced by the US Air Force and Navy General Staff based on the exercise results, it was believed that the US attack mode could completely destroy the Chinese aircraft carrier formation. US dive bombers would still have the power to fight even when facing Chinese J-9 fighters in combat.

Even if staff officers in both the US Navy and Air Force suggested that "this view might be too optimistic," the US staff officers who insisted on this view had to "shut up obediently" or were simply transferred away from the troops for various reasons. This was not because the US high-level officials were muddle-headed and incompetent, eating vegetarian meals while occupying positions. It was just that if such a view were really recognized by the whole army, there would be no need to fight this war.

In the battle, American pilots found that in pure air combat, US dive bombers indeed didn't need to be particularly afraid of Chinese J-9 fighters. In pure attacks on ships, US dive bombers were not unable to break through the Chinese fleet air defense system. But when subjected to joint attacks from the air and the sea surface at the same time, the Chinese J-9 fighters conducting level bombing found their survivability poor, while the US dive bomber formation found that they had surprisingly no battlefield survivability.

In just half an hour of fighting, 120 dive bombers among the 300 fighters in the first wave of the US military were basically lost. Among the remaining 180 P-51 fighters, more than 90 were also shot down. The remaining less than 90 P-51 fighters had to give up the battle and began to flee towards their own aircraft carrier formation.

Although the Asian Coalition achieved greater results, it still could not break through the US air defense system. The US aircraft carriers were still intact, playing their role as the core of the fleet. The Chinese commander commanding the first wave of attacks saw no better defense-breaking effect; fighting further would only increase losses in vain, so he could only choose to retreat. The first wave of battles between China and the United States ended helplessly without either side achieving their goals.

Receiving the news, Yamamoto looked grim, but his heart rate had returned to normal levels at this time. Although the campaign goal was not achieved, at least a lot of the US military's strength was figured out, and it also proved that the fleet air defense system of the Asian Coalition was sufficient to cope with the US attack.

"Gentlemen, how long will it take for the next plan to be calculated?" Yamamoto asked.

The US military on the opposing side had almost the same reaction. Realizing that there was indeed a gap between the US military and the Asian Coalition, and also understanding the equipment strength of the Asian Coalition, Vice Admiral Nimitz calmed down instead. These gaps were not irreparable, and the technical strength shown by the Asian Coalition indeed dispelled the unrealistic illusions of the US military based on advanced equipment. Up to now, the cards in both hands had been basically revealed.

Vice Admiral Nimitz immediately convened a radio meeting. Rear Admiral Durant, Commander of the aircraft carrier formation led by the *Enterprise*, shouted on the radio, "All dive bombers of our fleet have been shot down; the boys did their best. Since we cannot break the air defense system of the Chinese Air Force, I suggest starting to retreat and converging with the reinforcements."

Although this speech advocated retreat, no one objected, and there was silence on the radio. The generals knew very well that if the US military continued to fight, once the dive bombers were exhausted, the US military would lose its means of attack. At that time, they could only be beaten passively on one side. Instead of this, it was better to retreat quickly.

Just as other generals were considering whether to express support, Vice Admiral Nimitz's voice rang out on the radio: "I agree with the view of retreating."